Problems of Corporate Social Responsibility in Sugarcane Value Chain in Utter Pradesh: An Analysis through Integrated Model of CSR

Corporate social responsibility is a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business activities and interactions  with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. In this global context, voluntary social and environmental practices of business which go beyond companies’ existing legal obligations play a major role in filling the governance gap in an innovative way. The sector is characterized by controls across the entire value-chain of sugar production and sale, which not only hampers its efficiency but also exacerbates the cyclicality in sugar and sugarcane production. The growth and development in sugar sector in the country in general and in the state of Uttar Pradesh in particular has multiple linkages with social, economic and environmental issues. The purpose of this study is to conduct a triple bottom line assessment of sugarcane value chain and suggest alternatives that could improve the current sustainable practices of CSR across various stakeholders.